Harness



(M Model.) 7 D. STEUSSY.

HARNESS. No. 329,685. v Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOR H W A H UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

DAVID sTEUssY, or MONTIOELLO, WISCONSIN.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,685, dated November 3, 1885.

Application filed June 8, 1885. Serial No. 168,039. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID STEUssY, a resident of Monticello, in the county of Green and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in harness, and especially to devices for coupling three or five horses when driven abreast. The invention is described and explained in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is top plan of my device connecting the bits of three bridles; Fig. 2, a front elevation of same looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, a bridle of ordinary form being shown in connection with the central bit of the series; Fig. 3, a front elevation showing the detached parts of my device.

In these views, A is the center strap of my device, provided at its ends with buckles O, and at its center with a preferably flat or halfoval bent bar of metal, B, in whose ends are pivoted two snap-hooks, G, for attaching to the bit-rings O of the central horse of the team. Extension-straps H are fastened to the ends of the center strap by means of the buckles G, the ends of the extension-straps being held in loops I. fastened to the center strap. Snap-hooks G are fastened in the ordinary way to the ends of the extension-straps H, and engage, respectively, the inner bitrings, 0, of the two horses on opposite sides of and next to the center horse, all the bitrings being attached to bridles of ordinary form, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which a bridle is shown in connection with the central bit of the series. A second pair of extensionstraps, J, may be fastened to the center strap by means of the buckles O, as shown in Fig.- 2, the outer end of each of said straps being provided with a snap-hook for attaching to the inner bit'ring of a horse when five are harnessed abreast.

The buckles and snaps used for making the connection of the parts shown and described may have any desired form. Those shown are such as are in common use, and no novelty is claimed for them. The bar B need nothave the exact curve shown. In fact, it may be made straight; but it is preferable to curve it for the purpose of avoiding the striking of the jaw of the horse when the device is in use. I have used the connecting devices without the bar B, fastening the snaps G to the center strap, A, or to a short strap attached to the center strap; but I consider the iron bar a material advantage.

The arrangement for attaching the straps J may be varied, if desirable, by substituting for each of the snaps G a combined snap and buckle and fastening the straps J therein, instead of carrying them to the buckles O, as shown; and a limited device may be substituted for each of the snaps G at the center, though the use of the ordinary snaps and buckles shown gives perfectly satisfactory resnlts.

Having now described and explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for coupling an odd number of horses harnessed abreast, the combination, with a strap, of two snap-hooks near its center adapted to engage both the bit-rings of the center horse, and other snap-hooks placed at suitable intervals, and each adapted to engage one of the bit-rings of a horse on either side of the central horse.

2. The combination of the center strap, A, the bar B, and snaps G, the buckles .G, extension-straps H, and snaps G, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the center strap, A, the bar R, and snaps G, the buckles G, eXtension-straps H and J, and snaps attached to the outer ends of said extension-straps, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this 5 specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID STEUSSY.

Vitn esses:

J. A. GRAIN, M. REINEKE. 

